Centrifugal machine and method.



L. P. SHARPLE S. CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND METHOD.

APPLICAHON FILED APR.27, 1915.

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I L.- P. SHARPLES.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND METHOD.

APPLICAIION FILED APR.27,-l915.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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lNVE/VTOI?! are A TTORA/EY CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AND METHOD.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented net. a, rare.

Application filed April 27:, 191-5. Serial No. 24 208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LAUnENoE 1P. SHAR- PLES, a citizen of t e United States, re-

siding at West Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Centrifugal Machines and Methods, of which the following is a specification.

My invention-relates to centrifugal machines and methods, and my leading object is to provide improvements in feeding and steadying centrifugal bowls, more particularly to effect a desired substantially constant relation between the centrifugal force developed and the rate of feeding, with uniformly high efiiciency throughout the range of operating speeds. v

My improved machine, in its preferred form, comprises, generally stated, a suspended revoluble bowlv having a bottom inlet, together with top outlets adapted for effecting air exhaustion that will cause'fluid to be lifted byatmospheric pressure through said inlet from a supply beneath it, in combination with mechanisms for steadying the bottom of the bowl andproviding a guard and passageway containing the mouth of said inlet, the fluid to be treated being drawn through the passage and inlet into the revolving bowl by reason of the exhaust through the top outlets. a While the machine is designed particu larly for skimming milk; and separating cream, it will be understood that it is adapted for more general use.

The invention effects thedesideratum of taking and separating liquids at rates vary ing with the speed of rotation, in a machine that is simple in construction, readily taken down, easily cleaned and readily assembled. in the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a part sectional elevation of a centrifugal separator embodying my invention; Fig. 2

1s an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a broken part sectional elevation of the bottom of the bowl and its case with the supply vessel suspended from the latter.

My improved machine, in the form thereof illustrated in the drawings, comprises a pedestal 1 having the gear case 2 and the bowl case 3 supported thereby.

A tubular bowl is suspended and re volved in the case 3 by the spindle 5 journaled in the case 2. The bowl has in the upper end thereof the passage 6 adapted for discharging skim-milk, the free or lin trapped passage. 7 adapted for discharging cream and regulating the suction, and the air discharge passage 8 extending, from a point Within'the' cream wall, downwardly and outwardly through the top of the bowl to a point beyond the passage 6, to provide efiicient means for exhausting air from the bowl.

'The bottom of the bowl is provided with an axial boss 9 containing an axial inlet 10 through which an'upward draft is created by the exhaust through the top passages dueto the centrifugal action, the suction being su'ficient" to cause milk to be lifted through the inlet from a supply having a level preferably maintained below the boss. i

A tubular shell 11 is provided with a conical section 11' which fits-in a conical seat 3' in the bottom of the case 3 concentric with the boss 9. A ring or bushing 12 is disposed in the shell 11 on the boss 9 and is held against the shells inwardly extending flange 11 by a coiled spring 13. The ring, suitably of Wood, has a limited lateral movement in the shell under the restraining influence of friction due-to the springs action, whereby the lower end of the bowl is permitted a slight lateral movement and eccentric action under steadying frictional restraint.

A thimble, comprising the tubular sections 14: and' 14 joined by the shoulder 14t supports the spring 13, which rests on the shoulder, the larger upper section 14 telescoping in the lower end of the shell and the lower section 14" resting on the'bottom ofthe cup or vessel 15 which is provided with the centering boss 15 dis osed within the bottom of the thimble. Forts M in the section 14 permit liquid tobe drawn from the cup, exterior tothe thimble, into the chamber within. the thimble and shell, whence it is forced-by the unbalanced at-' mospheric pressure through the passage 10 into the bowl and the constituents separated therein are discharged through the passages ti and 7. v

The cup 15 is teleecoped en the batters the case 3 and "suspended therefrom by means of studs 3 on the case, which engage angular ways in the cup permitting '20 which is supported by the pedestal 1. A

float 21 in the cup 16 is provided with the stopper 21 adapted for closing the port 19 when the valve 19 is open and the liquid in i the cups rises to a predetermined level, the

' float maintaining a .constant liquid level below the bowl boss in the preferred operation.

The assembly, which is composed of the ring 12, the shell 11, the spring 13 and the thimble' 14, provides a guide for the lower end of the bowl 4: and a passageway for the liquid flowing to the bowl inlet 10. The passageway serves as a guard which prevents the revolving boss 9 from objectionably scattering or agitating the supply, and

also restricts the flow of air to the inlet 10, providing a chamber sealed to a degree, so that the suction shall have the desired effect on the liquid and cause it to be lifted into the bowl even when the level of the liquid in the supply cup 15- is wholly below the boss.

The mechanism described, when operated through a comparatively wide range of speeds, draws liquid into thebowl at a rate approximately proportional to the square of the speed of revolution. As the rate of revolution of the bowl effects a corresponding change in the centrifugal force developed, by which the rate of skimming varies, and a corresponding exhaustion of the bowl by which the rate of feeding varies, the desired operation and complete skimming are effected efliciently throughout variations in the speed of the machine, as distinguished from prior constructions and operations in which the speed, skimming force and rate of feed are not maintained in proportionate relation throughout speed changes or in which the load does not vary with the force.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a centrifuge machine, a revoluble bowl having an outlet adapted for exhaust- Illiltg it and an inlet through which feeding is e ected by the exhausting-action, in combination with a guard for said inlet, and

means for holding a supply of liquid in communication with said inlet.

2.2 In a centrifugal machine, a revoluble bowl having an outlet adapted for exhausting it and an inlet through which feeding is effected by the exhausting action, in combination with means for lessening the agitation of liquid in proximity to said inlet and facilitating the suction of said liquid through said inlet.

3. In a centrifugal machine, liquid supply means, in combination with a revoluble bowl having a bottom inlet and higher outlets adapted for sucking liquid from said supply means through said inlet, and means (in addition to said supply means) providing a passageway communicating with said inlet and adapted to be sealed by the liquid supply.

4:. In a centrifugal machine, liquid supply means, a revoluble bowl having a bottom inlet and higher outlets adapted for exhausting the revolving bowl and sucking liquid from said supply means through said inlet, in combination with means for both steadying the bottom of the bowl and conveying liquid from said means to said inlet.

5. In a centrifugal machine, a suspended revoluble bowl having an axial bottom boss containing an inlet and higher discharge passages adapted for exhausting the revolving bowl, so that liquid adjacent to said inlet will be sucked therethrough, a liquid supply means with which said inlet communicates and from which liquid is sucked into said bowl, and a steadying device engaging said boss and opposing frictional resistance. to lateral movement of the revolving bowl.

6. In a centrifugal machine, a suspended revoluble bowl having a bottom boss containing an inlet, a case in which said bowl revolves, a shell seated in the bottom of said case and having an inwardly projecting flange, a ring on said boss in engagement with said flange, a spring for holding .said ring in engagement with said flange, means for supporting said spring, liquid supply means, and means whereby liquid is sucked from said supply means through said inlet.

7. In a centrifugal machine, a suspended bowl having a bottom boss containing an inlet and top passages for exhausting said bowl so as to suck liquid through said inlet, a case in which said bowl revolves, a shell seated in the bottom of said case and surrounding said boss, said shell having an inwardly projecting flange, a ring on said boss coacting with said flange, a spring actin against said ring, a thimble holding said spring and a vessel from which liquid is drawn through said thimble to said inlet.

8. In the art of centrifugally separating fluids the method which consists in effecting an approximately constant ratio between the square of the revolutions of the revolving separating means'and the supply of fluid to be separated throughout speed changes.

9. In a centrifugal machine, a revoluble bowl having a feed inlet, a free untrapped outlet for a lighter constituent to be separated, and a constricted air outlet whereby suction feeding is effected.

l0. centrifu for feeding and woman a gal machine having means separating liquid at a rate approximately proportional to the square of the revolutions of the centrifuge, said 5 means comprisin g a revoluble bOWl' having inlet and outlet passages for material to be separated therein by centrifugal force,

and an outlet for exhausting air from said bowl to effect suction feeding through said inlet, said bowl having means for admitting 1 air to modify the exhausting action.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 24th day of April 1915.

L. P. sHARPLEs. 

